The Governor of a State is appointed by _________.
The President
Understanding the Appointment of a State Governor
The question asks who appoints the Governor of a State in India. The Governor is a constitutional head of a state and acts on the advice of the Council of Ministers of the State, except in certain discretionary matters. The role and appointment of the Governor are defined in the Constitution of India.
Constitutional Provision for Governor's Appointment
According to Article 155 of the Indian Constitution, the Governor of a State is appointed by the President of India. This means the President, acting on the advice of the Union Government, selects and appoints the Governor for each state.
Key points about the Governor's appointment:
- The Governor is the nominal head of the state government.
- They are appointed for a term of five years, but they hold office during the pleasure of the President. This means the President can remove a Governor at any time.
- A Governor can be transferred from one state to another by the President.
- The same person can be appointed as Governor for two or more states.
Analysis of the Options
Let's examine the given options:
- Chief Justice: The Chief Justice of India heads the judiciary and appoints judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts (through a collegium system involving other judges and the executive). The Chief Justice does not appoint State Governors.
- The Prime Minister: The Prime Minister is the head of the Union Government. While the President appoints the Governor on the advice of the Union Government (which is headed by the Prime Minister), the direct appointing authority specified in the Constitution is the President.
- The Vice-President: The Vice-President is the second-highest constitutional office in India and also serves as the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. The Vice-President does not have the power to appoint State Governors.
- The President: As per Article 155 of the Constitution, the President of India appoints the Governor of a State. This is the correct appointing authority.
Here is a summary of the key roles mentioned and their relation to the Governor's appointment:
| Constitutional Role | Primary Function | Appoints State Governor? |
|---|---|---|
| Chief Justice | Head of Judiciary | No |
| Prime Minister | Head of Union Government | No (Advises President) |
| Vice-President | Chairman of Rajya Sabha | No |
| President | Head of State, Appoints Heads of Union Executive | Yes (Appoints Governor) |
Based on the constitutional provisions and the analysis of the options, it is clear that the power to appoint the Governor of a State rests with the President of India.
Important Questions from State Government
Under Article 191 of the Constitution of India, a person shall be disqualified for being chosen as, and for being, a member of the Legislative Assembly or Legislative Council of a state if the person holds any office of profit under:
1. the Government of India.
2. any State Government.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Who has the power to recommend the dismissal of the state government and suspension or dissolution of the state assembly?
Which State Assembly passed the resolution on Sarna Code in November 2020?
Which of the following Articles of the Indian Constitution provides for a bicameral Parliament of India?
The total number of Ministers, including the Chief Minister, in the Council of Ministers in a State shall NOT exceed __________ of the total number of members of the Legislative Assembly of that State.
